Feeding mechanism for sewing-machines.



A. H. DE VOE. FEEDING MECHANISM ron SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I9. I912. 1.1 91 ,068. Patented July 11, 1916.

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A. H. 'DE- VOE. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Pawnted July 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19. I912.

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1 SATS PAT rt ALBERT H. DE VOE, OF WESTFIELD,

NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Speeification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed September 19, 1912. Serial No. 721,140.

This invention relates to an improvement.

in differential feeding mechanisms, and is designed particularly for embodiment in sewing machines fitted for stitching together the soles and uppers of Japanese tabis of which the uppers are usually composed of superposed plies of flexible cloth in which varying degrees of fullness are produced in the stitching around the forward or toe portion of the tabi The invention has for one of its principal objects to produce different rates ofadvance of the upper and lower of these plies of fa ric during the fulling operation so as to compensate for the different lengths of fabricof such plies used in the alternate gradual and abrupt corrugations'or bends of the material. Y

It has for a further object the control of the timing of engagement of the primary and auxiliary feeding elements with the work to insure that the former secures a firm grip thereon preparatory to the gripping of the upper by the latter.

In its preferred form, the auxiliary feeding mechanism comprises a reciprocatory carrier sustaining two opposed work-engaging members or aws of which one is pivotally mounted for movement both parallel with and at an angle with the operative face of the other with which it has a yielding connection for operative or work-advancing movement therewith, combined with a stop member into engagement with which the pivotally mounted feeding member is thrust to retard the latters, advance movement, while operative movements of the stop member intermediate the work-advancing movements of the feeding members causes the separation of such members after each feeding movement to secure a new grip upon the work.

The machine is preferably provided with primaryfeeding mechanism comprising a swinging which lifting movements are imparted by -is operatively connected with its means. Fig. 7 Y ing connection between the primary and secfeed-bar carrying a feeding foot to.

mechanism yieldingly connected with said i stop member and delayed in its action thereon in one direction by independently acting means;

The invention includes certain specific features of construction and arrangement which willibehereinafter described and set forth in the appended claims.

In-the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear side elevation, with the frame partly in section, representing a sewing machine embodying the present improvements, andFig. 2 a'plan of the same with the bracket-arm standard in transverse section. Fig.3 is atransverse section of the machine through the bracketarm and looking rearwardlyQ Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the auxiliary feeding device or work-clamp, and Fig. 5 an elevation of a part thereof partly in section. Fig. 6 is a partial front elevation of the primary feeding mechanism. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the primary feed-actuating mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detached front elevation representing a portion of the work-plate and work-engaging members of the primary and auxiliary feeding devices and theneedle and Fig. 9 is a perspective .view of the pri mary feeding foot and the yoke by which it actuating '10 is an elevation of the yieldondary feed-lifting means. Fig. 11 is a front end view of portions of the primary and secondary feeding devices upon an enlarged scale, and showing their relative action upon the several plies of fabric to be stitched together.

The present improvement is represented in connection with the machine shown and described in my Patent No. 1,009,055, of November'21, 1911, to which reference may be had for an understanding of the general construction and operation of the parts.

The frame comprises the bedplate'1 and hollow bracket-arm composed of the hollow standard 2 and overhanging tubular member" 3 terminating at its forward endin the head 4 in which is journaledthe'reciprd eating needle-bar 5 carrying the needle '6 which cooperates with a shuttle mounted within the race 7 depending from the bedplate 1. The main-shaft 8, journaled in the bracket-arm member 3 carries the usual balance-wheel 9 and groved belt-pulley 10.

The primary feeding mechanism comprises the swinging feed-bar 11 fulcrumed at its upper end upon the pin 12 sustained by an arm 13 of a rocker formed with upwardly and downwardly extending forked arms 14 and 15 and rearwardly extending arm 16. The rocker-arm 16 is pivotally connected with the link 17 sustained by the pin 18 upon a rearwardly extending rigid arm 19 sustained by the presser-bar 20 journaled in the bracket-arm head 4 and pressed downwardly by means of the spring 21.

Secured to and near the lower end of the feed-bar 11 is the plate 22 formed with elongated apertures 23 entered by the rollerstud 24 which is carried by a depending arm 25 fixed upon the forward end of the primary feed rock-shaft 26 having upon its rearward end the crank-arm 27 pivotally connected by the pin 28 with the lower end of the link-bar 29 having the yoked upper portion 30 embracing the primary feed-actuating cam 31 upon the main-shaft 8. In-

termediate its ends the link-bar carries a stud 32 embraced by the upper end of the short link 33 whose lower end embraces a pin 34 carried by the depending arm 35 of a feed-regulating lever mounted upon the fixed fulcrum 36 and having the lateral arm 37 for adjusting the position of the pin 34, in a manner well known. A spring 38 (Fig. 1) having its ends connected respectively with the rocker-arm 13 and the collar 39 upon the stud 12 serves to maintain the rearward wall of the aperture 23 in the plate 22 in operative contact relation with the roller-stud 24 for transmission of feeding movements from the actuating cam 31 to the feed-bar 11.

To the lower end of the feed-bar is secured by means of the fastening screw 40 the channeled shank 41 of the body or primary section of the presser-foot42 which is formed with a segmental lower edge terminating in its forward end with the depending transverse spur 43 which is divided centrally by the needle aperture or notch 44. at the forward end of the presser-foot. The shank 41 has an upwardly projecting lug 41 into which is tapped the fulcrumscrew 45 entering an aperture in the plate 46 overlying one side of the presser-foot shank and having an inturned lip 47 concentric with the lower edge of the shank 41 and provided with a depending transverse spur 48 forming in conjunction with the spur 43 an arch to receive the fullness of the upper plies of fabric. The plate 46 constitutes apresser-foot section which is adjustable upon the fulcrum-pin 45, and which is adapted to be secured with the spur 48 adjustably spaced from the spur 43 by means of the fastening screw 49 entering a segmental slot 50 in said plate and tapped into the side of the main presser-foot section 42, a clearance aperture51 being formed in said plate for the head of the fastening screw 40, as represented in Fig. 9.

Entering the alined slots 52 and '53 of the rocker-arms 14 and 15 are the roller-studs 54 carried by the cross-bar 55 which is fixed upon theforward end of the feed-lift rockshaft 56 having secured upon its rearward end the hub 57 of the crank-arm 58 having the roller-stud 59 which enters the camgroove 60 formed in the forward face of the belt-wheel 10. By the means just described the rocking of the cross-bar 55 causes the turning of the rocker upon the supporting link 17 as a fulcrum by means of which the feed-bar 11 is lifted after each feeding movement and while the feeding foot is performing its retrograde movement to take a fresh hold upon the work.

Mounted in a bearing boss 61 depending from the bed-plate l is the tubular hub 62 of the vibratory carrier-lever 63, and journaled in this hub is the depending fulcrumpin 64 of the block 65 channeled in its lower face to receive the arm 66 provided with the lower work-clamping jaw 67, the upper clamping jaw 68 being formed upon the downwardly offset forward end of the arm 69 fulcrumed for edgewise movement upon the stud-screw 7 0 carried by the rocking support 71 which is in turn pivotally mounted upon the transverse pin 72 within the longitudinal channel 73 of the block 65. Interposed between the bottom of the chan nel 73 and the arm or lever 69 is the spring 74 which normally presses the latter upwardly to separate the work-engaging jaws 67 and 68, and the arm 66 has secured to its under side by means of the screw 75 a plate 76 having the flattened steady pin 77 extending upwardly through'apertures 78 and 79 of the two jaws whereby the lateral movement of the upper jaw upon the fulcrumstud 70 relativelyto the lower jaw is limited, the width of the aperture 79 affording suliicient clearance for a slight lateral movement of the upper jaw relatively to the steady pin 77.

Adjustably secured upon the rearward portion of the arm or lever 69 by'means of screws 80 and 81 is the contact plate 82 having a rearward extension 83 whose forward edge and lower face normally rest in contact with a lateral stop-shoulder 85 and an angularly disposed supporting shoulder 85 afforded by a lateral notch of a block 85 se cured by screws 86 upon a pull-rod 87 journaled-at its lower end in an aperture 88 of the bed-plate. The extension 83 of the contact-plate 82 is-normallymaintained in engagement with the stop-shoulder of the block 85 by means of a spring 89 interposed between a depending lip 90 of said plate and the adjacent edge of the rocking support 71; and an elongated transverse aperture 91 of the arm 69 surrounding the screw 81 afi'ords clearance for adjustment of the plate 82 to determine the initial relation of the upper jaw 68 to the lower jaw. The extension 83 normally rests upon the horizontal supporting shoulder of the block 85 under the action of the spring 74.

The pull-rod 87 has at its upper end a strap 92 embracing a stud 93 upon the forwardly projecting arm 94 of a tubular rockshaft 95 mounted upon the feed rock-shaft 26 and provided with an upwardly extending crank-arm 96. The arm 96 carries a stud 97 embraced by a strap 98 at one end of the push-rod 99 which passes loosely through an eye formed in a rocking stud 100 carried by the crank-arm 101 fixed upon the feed-lift rock-shaft 56, a spring 102 interposed between the stud 100 and a nut 103 upon the rearward end of the push-rod 99 serving to normally maintain seated upon the opposite side of the rocking stud 100 a shoulder of the rod 99 afforded by a nut 104 secured in position by means of a jamnut 105. As the spring 102 is stronger than the spring 74, it will be observed that the opening and closing of the work-clamping jaws 67 and 68 are controlled by the operation ofthe feed-lift rock-shaft 56, the opening of the jaws or work-engaging members occurring simultaneously with the lifting of the primary feeding foot; while the buffer afforded by the spring 102 affords a yielding connection between the prlmary and auxiliary feed-lift mechanisms con trolled by the rock-shafts 56 and 95.

Loosely mounted upon the feed-lift rockshaft 56 is a rocking sleeve 106 having a rearwardly and laterally extending crankarm 107 which carries the laterally adjustable stud 108 entering the cam-groove 60 and affording a second follower which performs identical movements with the rollerstud 59 but timed slightly later in the rotation of the main-shaft 8. The sleeve 106 has upon its opposite end a rigid stop-arm 109 formed in its outer portion with a fiat contact face 110 adapted for engagement with an extension of the pin 97 which normally rests in contact therewith. When the rock-shafts 56 and 95 perform their lifting movements, the pin 97 recedes from the stop-arm 109 which follows the same after a brief interval and regains operative relation therewith before the retrograde oscillation of the primary feed-lift rock-shaft 56, whose action in loweringthe primary feeding member 42 46 causes the compression of the buffer-spring 102 without affecting the pull-rod 87 until the retraction of the stop-arm 109, which permits the rocking of the shaft 95 under the action of the spring 102 to close the upper jaw 68 upon the lower aw 67 after the primary feeding member has taken'a firm hold upon the work for a new feeding movement.

The block 65 is formed with the forwardly projecting arm 111 terminating in a segmental cam-edge 112 formed with the wedgeshaped notch 113 entered by the correspondingly shaped tooth 114 of a latch-bar 115 fitted to a suitable slideway in the carrierlever 63 and pressed normally into latching relation by means of the spring 116. Pivotally mounted by means of the pin 117 upon the block 65 is the release lever 118 having an arm adapted for engagement with the latch-bar 115 for disengaging its tooth 114 from the notch 113 to permit the auxiliary work-feeding members to be retracted from operative position in which the aws 67 and 68 are disposed in advance of the needles and above the throat-plate 119 provided with the needle-aperture 120.

The carrier-lever 63 is provided with a lateral ear 121 connected by means of a link 122 with one end of a rock-lever 123 fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon the studscrew 124 and connected at the opposite end by means of the link 125 with a swinging crank-arm 126 mounted upon the stud 127 fixed in the bracketarm. The crank-arm 126 has pivotally connected therewith by means of the pin 128 one end of a link 129 whose opposite end is pivotally connected by means of the stud 13 with a slide-block 131 which is fitted within a segmental slideway 132 of a guide-arm 133 mounted upon the rearward end of the shaft 134 journaled in the bracket-arm.

The link 129carries adjacent the block 131 a screw-pin 135 embraced by the lower end of a pitman-rod 136 whose apertured upper end embraces a pin 137 carried by the lower arm of a yoke 138 having its hub loosely mounted upon the primary feed-lift rock shaft 56, said yoke embracing the auxiliary feed-actuating cam 139 fixed upon the mainshaft 8. The guide-arm 133 is normally positioned with its slideway eccentric to the pivotal pin 128 which causes the vibration of the crank arm 126 under the resultant lateral movements derived from the reciprocation of the slide-block 131 communicated from the cam 139. The operative movements of the crank-arm 126 are communicated through the described connections to the work-engaging jaws 67 and 68 independent of those of the primary feeding foot carried by the swinging feed-bar 11.

For certain classes of work, the guide-arm 133 may be so set as to produce uniform vibratory movements of the carrier-lever 63, and consequently of the worlrengagin'g members 67 and 68, and the auxiliary feeding members would in such case have a movement of considerably greater amplitude than the primary feeding member in order to produce a uniform fullness of the work in its advance to the stitch-forming mechanism. In the present machine, as in that forming the subject of my said patent, means are provided, including the controlling cam 140 and connections with the shaft 134, whereby the latter may be rocked so as to vary the angular position of the guide-arm 133 for effecting automatically corresponding variations in the differential movements of the auxiliary feeding device relative to the primary feeding mechanism.

As will be observed, the push-rod 87 is arranged at one side of the fulcrum 84. The arms 66 and 69 in their operative movements are carried bodily in an are around the fulcrum 64 as a center. In its movement the contact-plate extension 83 at the rearward extremity of arm or lever 69, wipes across the face 85 of block 85 secured upon the push-rod 87. Thus the arm 69, in its forward movement, swings slightly upon fulcrum 70, thereby causing a retardation in the advance or operative movement of the upper jaw in opposition to the spring 89 relatively to the unrestricted positive movement of the lower aw, for effecting a slightly slower movement of an upper ply of material relatively to the lower ply embraced by said jaws. As represented particularly in Figs. 4 and 11, the operative faces of the lower and upper feeding members 67 and 68 are formed with \oppositely inclined work-engaging teeth 67 and 68, the former tending to resist the retractive movement of the lower ply of material while the latter facilitates the relative retrograde movement of the upper ply. This is desirable to insure the utilization of equal lengths of the upper and lower plies in the fulling operation for the reason that the spaced work-engaging spurs 43 and 48 of the primary feeding member are formed of wedge shape so as to engage the work in substantially single transverse lines spaced correspondingly with the needle-punctures so as to produce sharp angles at such points while the fulled portions of the upper plies between the same are permitted to assume the form of rounded corrugations within the arch of the feeding member, as represented in Fig. 11.

The swinging feed-lever 11 is shown provided near its upper end with the bracketpiece 141 carrying the roller-stud 142 adapted for engagement with the lateral stud 143 of a lifter-plate 144 slidingly fitted upon the presser-bar 20 and provided with the rollerstud 145 and with the rearwardly extending stop-shoulder 146. The usual cam-lever 147 with cam portion 148 is adapted when lifted to engage the roller-stud 145 to raise the lifter-plate whereby the stud 143 engages the roller-stud 142 and lifts the feed-lever and feeding foot.

The secondary feed-lifting rock-shaft 95 has the laterally and forwardly extending arm 95 carrying the pin 149 extending above the lifter-plate shoulder 146 affording a connection whereby the manual lifting of the primary feeding member causes the separation of the component feeding members 67 and 68 of the auxiliary or difierential feeding device.

In the use of the machine as thus de scribed, the feeding members 42 46 and 68 are first manually'lifted, and the tabi sole or lower ply of material a introduced between the feeding members and the throatplate. The overlapped inner and outer plies Z) and 0 of the shoe upper are then introduced between the work-engaging members of the auxiliary feeding device and beneath the primary feeding member, after which the previously lifted members are lowered into engagement with the Work and the machine set in motion. lVith the variably controlled auxiliary feed, the latter is caused to initially feed the work at the same speed as the primary feeding member, but gradually increases its throw so as to produce progressively the fulling action represented in Fig. 11, the auxiliary feeding device forcing the work against the forward face of the member 43 in which condition it is secured to the lower ply by descent of the needle through the parts clamped between the members 67 and 68, thereby laying upon the face of the upper ply the needle-thread loops 8 which are interlocked within the work with the shuttle-threads s in the usual way. The spac ing of the spurs 43 and 48 of the primary feeding member is so adjusted by means of the clamping screw 49 that such spurs are a stitch-length apart, and these spurs therefore straddle the fulled portions of fabric and assume positions in register with the needle-punctures in the progress of the stitching and feeding operations, the throw of the primary feeding member being uniform and determining the length of the stitches, while the throw of the auxiliary feeding device merely determines the amount of fullness of the superposed upper plies of fabric.

While the present improvement is shown and described herein in its preferred form, it is evident that it is susceptible of very material modification in the construction and arrangements of its parts within the scope of the invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1.. In a sewing machine, the feedingmechanism comprising a reciprocatory carrier, actuating means therefor, work-engag ing members sustained by and movable with said carrier, and having work-engaging portions so disposed that one overlies the other, one work-engaging member being movable relative to the carrier, and means coacting with one of said members for varying its operative movement relative to the other.

2. In a sewing machine, the feedingmechanism comprising a reciprocatory carrier, actuating means therefor, work-engaging members sustained by and movable with said carrier, and having work-engaging portions so disposed that one overlies the other, the first member being mounted upon the carrier for movement both parallel with and at an angle to the operative face of the other member, and means for retarding the parallel movement of said first member.

3. In a sewing machine, feeding-mechanism comprising a reciprocatory carrier, actuating means therefor, work-engaging members sustained by and movable with said carrier, and having work-engaging portions so disposed that one overlies theother, positively acting means for closing said members upon the work, means acting on one of said members to automatically vary its feeding movement relative to the other, and means for separating said members preparatory to each operative or feed-producing movement for the carrier.

4. In a. sewing machine, aiwork feeding mechanism comprising a carrier, a fulcrum therefor, actuating means for said carrier, a stop member arranged at one side of said fulcrum, work-engaging members sustained by and movable with said carrier, and having work-engaging portions so disposed that one overlies the other, one of said work-engaging members being pivotally mounted upon the carrier and carrying a part movable into and out of operative engagement with said stop member, and means for separating the work-engaging portions of said members preparatory to each operative or feed-producing movement of the latter.

5. In a sewing machine, the feeding mechanism comprising a vibratory carrier, a fulcrum therefor, actuating means for said carrier, a stop member arranged at one side of said fulcrum, a feeding member rigidly secured upon said carrier, a coacting feed ing member pivotally mounted upon said carrier for movement both parallel and at an angle with the operative face of the rigid member and carrying a part movable into and out of operative engagement with said stop member and means for separating the operative faces of said members preparatory to each operative or feed-producing movement of the carrier.

6. In a sewing machine, the feeding mechanism comprising a vibratory carrier, a fulcrum therefor, actuating means for said carrier, a primary work-engaging member sustained by said carrier, a secondary workengaging member pivotally mounted upon said carrier for movement both parallel and at an angle with the operative face of the primary member and formed with a contact part, a movable stop member arranged at one side of said fulcrum and formed with mary feeding device, means for imparting to 7. In a sewlng machine, the combination with a primary-work feeding device and actuating means therefor, of a differential feeding device comprising opposed relatively movable work-engaging members having operative faces disposed at a substantially different level from that of said prisaid members differential operative or workfeeding movements, and means for separating said members preparatory to each operative movement.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination with primary work-feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog, means for imparting thereto operative work-advancing movements, and feed-dog means, of a differential feeding device comprising a work-engaging member, means for imparting thereto oper- I ative work-advancing movements different from those of said feed-dog, means connected with the feed-dog lifting means for retracting said member from the work preparatory to each operative movement, and means independent thereof for varying the normal timing of operation of said feed-dog lifting means in its action upon said workengaging member.

9. In a sewing machine, the combination 7 with primary and secondary feeding members and means for imparting thereto diffen ential operative feeding movements, of primary lifting means connected with said primary worloengaging member, a yielding connection between said lifting means and the secondary work-engaging member, whereby the latter is moved into and'out of engagement with the work, and means independent of said connection and acting thereon to delay the engagement of the secondary work engaging member until the primary member has engaged the work.

10. In a sewing machine, the combina- 5 tion with primary and secondary feeding members and means for imparting thereto differential operative feeding movements, of primary lifting means comprising a rockshaft connected with the primary workengaging member and provided with a crank-arm, secondary lifting means acting upon the secondary work-engaging member and comprising a rock-shaft provided with a crank-arm, a yielding connection between said crank-arms, and a reciprocatory stopelement with means for moving it with the same frequency but later in time than the first-named rock-shaft and into the range of movement of an element of the secondnamed rock-shaft for temporary arrest of the latter under the action of the first named rock-shaft.

action of said lifting means upon the feeding members.

12. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of feeding mechanism comprising differentially moving primary and secondary feeding members a'rranged respectively rearward and in advance of the stitch-forming mechanism, the former being arched in its operative face to receive the fullness of the material produced by said differential movement, and means for actuating said feeding members.

13. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of feeding mechanism comprising a feed-bar and a feeding foot secured thereto and formed in relatively adjustable sections each affording one of the side walls of a transverse groove of variable width in the operative face of the foot, a feeding member movable differentially relative to said foot, and means con nected with said feed-bar and said feeding member for imparting differential operative movements thereto.

14. In a sewing machine, feeding-mech anism comprising feeding members, each having a work-engaging face so disposed that one overlies the other, whereby they may coact to feed the work, means for i1n parting differential feeding movements to said members, the work-engaging face of each member having teeth inclined in the general direction of its movement relative to the other member, to effect the advancement of two interposed plies of fabric at different rates of speed.

15. In a sewing machine, feeding-mechanism comprising a reciprocatory carrier, two relatively movable feeding members sustained by said carrier, and having workengaging portions so arranged that one overlies the other, and means including a stop s I device acting on one of said members to reduce its speed of movement relative to the other member for a portion of its travel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

ALBERT H. DE VOE. Witnesses:

HENRY A. KORNEMANN, J r., W. P. STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

